Kabul, Oct 18: Afghanistan has withdrawn from the upcoming tri-nation T20 series involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka after the killing of three Afghan cricketers in Paktika province. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said the players were killed in a “cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime.”
The tri-series was scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi and Lahore from November 17 to 29.
In a statement, the ACB said it was “deeply saddened” by the deaths of the players — Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon — who were among several people attacked after returning from a friendly cricket match in Sharana, the provincial capital. Seven others were injured in the attack.
“The Afghanistan Cricket Board expresses deep sorrow over the martyrdom of our cricketers from Urgun District in Paktika. This cowardly act is a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community and cricket family,” the statement said.
The ACB said the decision to pull out of the series was taken as a mark of respect for the victims.
“In response to this tragic incident and as a gesture of respect, the ACB has decided to withdraw from the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series involving Pakistan,” the board said.
The statement also prayed for the martyrs and a speedy recovery of the injured.
According to reports, Pakistan recently carried out airstrikes in the Argun and Barmal districts of Paktika, breaking the ceasefire between the two countries.
Star Afghan cricketer Rashid Khan condemned the attack, calling it “immoral and barbaric.”
“It is wrong to target civilians. These acts violate human rights and must not be ignored,” he said on X (formerly Twitter).
Rashid supported the ACB’s decision to withdraw from the series, saying, “I stand with our people at this difficult time. Our national dignity comes first.”
